The US military says one US soldier and an Afghan interpreter have been killed in a gunfight in southern Afghanistan, as the war-ravaged country continues its bloody countdown to parliamentary polls. A military statement says they were moving into position for a daylight offensive operation south of Dai Chopan in Zabul province when the gun battle occurred. U.S. and Afghan government forces have mounted a series of operations in the south and east in recent months, aimed at flushing out militants and ensuring security for September 18th parliamentary elections. The U.S. military said two Taleban were later killed in the attack including one identified as a sub-commander. A purported spokesman for the Taleban confirmed the local-level commander, known as Tor Mullah Abdul Manan, had been killed in a battle in the restive Zabul province.